Committee hears bill to study potential regionalization of fire services in Washoe County

Sen. Skip Daley presented Senate Bill 319 to the Assembly Committee on Government Affairs, describing a pared-down first reprint that requires an interlocal agreement among Reno, Sparks and Washoe County to study possible regionalization or consolidation of fire services and to report recommendations, including potential implementation legislation.

The sponsor said the three governing bodies are in agreement that regionalization should be evaluated and that the amended bill extends the target date for the study’s report to Dec. 31, 2026 (it had originally set July 2026). "The three governing bodies have to pay any expenses associated with the study," Daley said.

Local fire leaders appeared in support. Dale Way, interim chief of the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, said the additional time to complete the study was essential. Walter White, fire chief for the City of Sparks, and David Cochran, chief of the Reno Fire Department, also supported the study. Cochran said from an operational standpoint a regional department can be "the most effective, efficient way" to provide fire services but added the challenges are governance and financing and expressed hope the study would address those issues.

Todd Inglesby, president of Professional Firefighters Nevada, testified in support and said the study would benefit members and the public. Thomas Daly, a retired fire protection consultant testifying in opposition, said multiple prior expert reports had not recommended consolidation, called the study an unfunded mandate and estimated the study could cost local jurisdictions at least $100,000. Daly urged the committee to let local jurisdictions continue working on dispatch consolidation and automatic aid instead of mandating another study.

Daley replied that local jurisdictions have cooperated in the past, that barriers to cooperation (for example, differences in crew sizes and bargaining agreements) have changed, and that the three agencies now want to evaluate whether a more integrated governance structure would improve service and efficiency. He said the bill is intended to be the first step and that if the study’s recommendations favor regionalization, implementing legislation could be pursued in the next session.

The hearing record shows support and opposition testimony on the record; the committee closed the hearing after final remarks by the sponsor.